Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurfhomi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Sunsurfhomi’, characterized by its trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; small-sized white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunsurfhomi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunsurfhomi’.

The new Petunia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Petunia cultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Petunia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in September, 2003 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PS56-3, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PS143-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Sunsurfhomi has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunsurfhomi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunsurfhomi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia:

-   -   1. Trailing plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Small-sized white-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more trailing than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have soft pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Keiwhihus, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,089. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Petunia and the cultivar Keiwhihus differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia had shorter internodes than plants         of the cultivar Keiwhihus.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         the cultivar Keiwhihus.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia and the cultivar         Keiwhihus differed slightly in color as flowers of plants of the         cultivar Keiwhihus had yellowish white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsurfhomi’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sunsurfhomi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the summer in an outdoor nursery day temperatures averaging 23° C., and night temperatures averaging 13° C. Plants had been growing for about four months when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Sunsurfhomi. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PS56-3, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number PS143-1, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at temperatures of             20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, fleshy; light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Trailing plant habit. Freely             branching habit with about seven lateral branches developing             per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development.             Vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 14.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 65.4 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 39.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 4.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             Close to 144A; venation, close to 145A. Developing and fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation,             close to 145A.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with usually             about 51 open flowers per plant. Flowers face upright or             outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Petunia initiate             and develop flowers about three to four weeks after             planting. Long flowering period; flowering commences             naturally during the spring and plants flower continuously             throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan. Flowers             not persistent.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 3.5 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 8.2 mm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 1.9 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 2.6 cm.             Diameter: About 4.9 mm. Color: Close to 145C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.5 cm. Petal width: About 1.7 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Mucronate. Petal margin: Entire.             Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 155C. Petal, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 155C; venation, close to             145A. Throat: Close to 155C. Tube: Close to 155C.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About             1.1 cm. Sepal width: About 1.8 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate.             Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 0.9 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per             flower. Stamen length: About 8.3 mm to 16.9 mm. Anther             shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.7 mm by 1.8 mm.             Anther color: Close to 150D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 1.3 cm. Style color: Close to 145B.             Stigma shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close             to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 143C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Petunia. 

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurfhomi’ as illustrated and described. 